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Brampton to get skate park and BMX site

Brampton is set to get a skate park and BMX track, next to William Howard School.

The secondary school already had plans for the BMX track but the project has been expanded to include a skate park thanks to money from Story Construction.

The company agreed to contribute £74,436 towards public open spaces as a condition of getting planning consent for 42 homes on the site of an old highways depot in Station Road.

Carlisle City Council is expected to release a chunk of that money on Monday for the BMX track/skate park project, which will be open to the general public as well as pupils.

The scheme will need planning permission but the school hopes it can be ready by September.

Council leader Mike Mitchelson said: “Working with the school and the parish council, we have been able to come to an agreement that provides a new skate park and BMX facility.

“It is going to be a great community facility.”

The school already has a community bike club, open to residents of Brampton and Longtown parishes.

A report to councillors says: “The project will have a positive impact as one of the issues around youth and anti-social behaviour in Brampton is the misuse of bikes and skateboards in the town centre.”

The BMX track/skate park is the brainchild of two William Howard pupils, brothers Joe and Andy Pickering, who approached Brampton parish council in 2009.

The original proposal to put it on George V playing field ran into opposition from nearby residents but the new site, next to the school, is not near to homes.

Kath Pigdon, assistant headteacher at William Howard, said: “A working group of students will design it with the contractors. We will fence it off and make sure it looks great.”

The rest of Story Construction’s money will be spent on the King George V playing field and Murray Park.

Murray Park will get new play equipment for the under-nines.

The King George V playing field will get a rotating seesaw, nest swing, crow’s nest and an aeroskate.